 Matthew Scott fared little better, now tending a normal sized African female billed as "Jumbo's Widow". I noticed in a much later Route Book that he was listed as being in charge of the dog cage. Fame is fleeting.  |
Monday, February 21, 2011
"Jumbo Scotty" #6
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8 comments:
I hope I'm not giving the impression that I have all these route books.
One of the perks of working at CWM all those years was the availability of their fabulous Library.
By the way, last Saturday evening I drove down to the Club and had a great time visiting with Jack Ryan.
The Colonel and I were in rare form and Johnny mentioned that his daughter Heidi would be one of the feature artists appearing at CWM this year.
He plans on being there for the opening.
Bailey disputed the claim that he had a mental breakdown. He may have worked himself to physical exhaustion. The years 1881-1883 had been great ones for the circus, making big profits, and he surely tried to continue that success, without enjoying it, during the white elephant year, 1884 and early part of 1885. During his respite from being Barnum's partner he supervised the design and construction of a new mansion.
You might have observed my use of the word "synopsis".
While setting up on California Shopping Center parking lots with James Bros. Circus, the Lot Superentendant, "Bad-Eye" Nick Bangor always carried one around.
"Don't park those house trailers there!.....Why Not?"....."The sinoppus says we're not supposed to!"
My favorite was, "According to the sinoppus we got a new lot in Oxen-hard."
Mr. Scott's career reminded me of one of the keepers at the St. Louis Zoo. Willy Raaf began his zoo career in the early 1920s. Through most of his zoo days he was the keeper of the small mammal collection kept near the Reptile House. He had a lot of animals to care for, certainly a full days work. With diurnal and nocturnal animals he was busy from early morning until late afternoon. In the mid 1960s the Zoo began to reduce the small mammal collection. By 1968 the few animals left were moved to the hospital area and Willy moved with them. We'd kid Willy about making five small animals an all day job. He'd just smile back and take good care of the porcupine and the few others. He deserved the break.
Anonymous: was that the mansion built in, I believe The Bronx ?
Thanks, Paul Anonymous
Is this the famous Columbia mentioned with this herd?
"Columbia" was executed by strangulation in Bridgeport following the 1905 season.
For the Bailey mansion see: http://www.facebook.com/pages/James-A-Bailey-Mansion/134802606570424 and elsewhere.
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